Monday, October 26, 2009

Half Angel

Half Angel (1951) is a delightful romantic comedy directed by Richard Sale and stars Loretta Young and Joseph Cotton.

Loretta Young plays Nora, a prim and proper nurse, engaged to the stuffy Tim (John Ridgely). Nora is a sleepwalker and during her nocturnal forays, the less inhibited side of her personality takes over. On one of her nocturnal strolls, she meets up with her childhood sweetheart flame, John Raymond Jr. (Joseph Cotten) and once more falls for him. Of course, neither of Nora's personalities is aware of the other's existence, which leads to a comedy of errors. Finally, on the night before her planned wedding to Tim, her nighttime half runs off with John, to her other self's bewilderment the next morning. Of course her psychological problem is discovered in time and the movie ends on a happy note.

Cecil Kellaway plays Nora's father Harry Gilpin. Cecil Kellaway is a long time character actor who appeared in such films as Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte (1964), and Harvey (1950).

Basil Ruysdael plays Nora's boss, Dr. Jackson. He appeared in such films as The Horse Soliders (1959), People Will Talk (1951), and The File on Thelma Jordan (1950).